History of Russia: The sixth exhibition of the project “Around the throne” dedicated to Alexander I, in Saint-Petersburg

The State Museum of Political History of Russia (Saint-Petersburg) presents the exhibition project “Around the throne”, dedicated to the 400^th anniversary of the accession of the Romanov dynasty. The project consists of fourteen exhibitions of one exhibit which will be demonstrated throughout 2013.

The sixth exhibition of the project “Around the throne”, dedicated to Alexander I, opens on June 5, 2013.

Alexander the Blessed (December 12, 1777, Saint-Petersburg – November 19, 1825, Taganrog) is the eldest son of Paul I, the grandson of Catherine II – the 10th Emperor of All Russia (from March 12, 1801). The protector of the Order of Malta (since 1801), the Grand Duke of Finland (since 1809), tsar of Poland (since 1815).

Alexander I was the military governor of Saint-Petersburg, the chief of the Guards of the Semenov regiment, inspector of cavalry and infantry, the chairman of the Military Department of the Senate.

He represented himself the development of Russia in purely European forms, he planned introduction of a constitution, the abolition of serfdom, the development of new laws. Of reformers grouped around him there was formed Private Committee.

There were adopted decrees improved the situation of peasants: there was limited distribution of state peasants in private hands. February 20, 1803 was issued a decree on the “free cultivators”, providing for repayment of farmers at will by mutual agreement with their landlords.

Many transformations were related to the liberalization in education, printing. The censorship statute was the most liberal in Russia in the XIX. The reform of Public Education in 1803-1804 introduced free education at the lower levels of schools. Alexander I created a lot of elementary schools, as well as 4 universities (in Kharkov, Kazan, Dorpat, and Vilna), the Institute of Communications, the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum (later the Alexander), the Law School, the Mountain Cadet Corps and etc.

In 1802-1811 led by M. M. Speransky were held transformations of the central government. The colleges were replaced with ministries. In 1810 was established the law consulting body during the reign of the State Council. But future plans of Speransky met strong opposition among the nobility and the higher bureaucracy.

The military victories of the Russian army in 1812-1814 made Alexander I ​​the supreme master of fate of Europe. He insisted on a foreign campaign and the final defeat of Napoleon’s army, he was a key figure at the Congress of Vienna in 1814. The Emperor initiated the establishment of the Holy Union of European monarchs, whose aim was to maintain peace on the basis of the protection of existing dynasties and the rebuff to any liberal movement.